Empowering Women as Leaders
Empowering Women as Leaders (EWL) is a 501c3 non-profit, founded in 2004, that supports non-traditional age women (23+) pursuing their first bachelor's degree through scholarships ($1,500/semester), mentoring, and networking delivered via five U.S. chapters in Texas and Colorado.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersDallas, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Empowering Women as Leaders does
Empowering Women as Leaders (EWL) is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in October 2004 by Carolyn Bondy that supports non-traditional age women (23+) pursuing their first bachelor's degree. The organization delivers three interlocking services — STAR Scholarships of $1,500 per semester, one-on-one professional mentoring, and ongoing networking — through a chapter-based operating model with five active locations in Dallas (founding chapter), Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, and Denver (launched 2025). Recipients, internally branded as STARs, must be enrolled at partner universities as second-semester freshmen through juniors, hold a 3.2+ GPA, qualify for FAFSA, and commit to 2–3 hours of mentoring per month.
The core program stack consists of the STAR Scholarship, a Mentoring Program that pairs each STAR with an established professional woman, and a Networking Program connecting current and alumni STARs. These are delivered in tandem through local chapters and rely on university-channel partnerships with Texas Woman's University (founding partner since 2004) and Texas State University (Austin chapter). EWL is not a technology company; its underlying stack is the Webflow marketing site (ewlusa.org), a contact form, and GiveButter donation pages configured at both national and chapter levels. There are no software products, APIs, AI/ML systems, or proprietary platforms disclosed.
EWL generates revenue entirely through donations and corporate sponsorships, organized into tiered packages (Executive, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Champion) at both the national and chapter level. National Executive/Platinum sponsors include Apex Catalyst Group and Primed Business Consulting; chapter sponsors include Charles Schwab and Texas Capital Bank (Dallas), ADP and Prosperity Bank (Fort Worth), the Kao Family Foundation (Austin), and Xcel Energy (Denver). Fundraising events — annual golf tournaments (e.g., Austin's third annual tournament raised over $15,000 with 100 players), Launch a Leader Luncheons, and STAR Signing and Graduation celebrations — serve as the primary GTM channels for donor acquisition, sponsor engagement, and community building. Headcount is reported in the 11–50 range; the organization has sponsored approximately 190 women over 20 years and disbursed roughly $500,000 in scholarships, with an 83% STAR graduation rate and a 3.65 alumni GPA.
Empowering Women as Leaders firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Empowering Women as Leaders
- Legal name
- Empowering Women as Leaders
- Website
- https://ewlusa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Empowering Women as Leaders (EWL) is a 501c3 non-profit, founded in 2004, that supports non-traditional age women (23+) pursuing their first bachelor's degree through scholarships ($1,500/semester), mentoring, and networking delivered via five U.S. chapters in Texas and Colorado.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Empowering Women as Leaders industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Women's Education Support
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (6117), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms (EDAFAMAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Scholarships, Grants & Donor-Funded Awards Management (EDALAJAB), Alumni, Peer & Community Networking Programs (EDAMAKAM)
Keywords
Where Empowering Women as Leaders is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dallas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Empowering Women as Leaders business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Sponsorships: EWL is a 501c3 non-profit organization that generates revenue through individual donations (one-time and recurring), corporate sponsorships at various levels (Executive, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Champion), and chapter-specific fundraising campaigns. All donations support STAR scholarships, mentoring programs, and operational costs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | STAR Scholarship - $1,500 per semester plus mentoring |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Empowering Women as Leaders product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Empowering Women as Leaders (EWL) provides a STAR Scholarship Program delivering $1,500 per semester to non-traditional age women (23+) enrolled at partner universities, combined with one-on-one mentoring from professional women and networking opportunities throughout college and into careers. The program is delivered through five local chapters (Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Denver) in partnership with Texas Woman's University and Texas State University.
Product overview
Empowering Women as Leaders (EWL) is a non-profit organization offering a unified scholarship and support program for non-traditional age women. The core offering consists of the STAR Scholarship Program (providing $1,500 per semester plus mentoring) combined with mentoring and networking services. The organization operates through five local chapters (Austin, Dallas, Denver, Fort Worth, Houston) that deliver services at partnered universities including Texas Woman's University and Texas State University. This is not a technology platform but a direct-service non-profit.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- STAR Scholarship Program
- Mentoring Program
- Networking Program
- Local Chapters Program (Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Denver)
Quantifiable outcome
- 83% graduation rate for STAR recipients compared to national average
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Empowering Women as Leaders
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Empowering Women as Leaders technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Empowering Women as Leaders partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Texas Woman's UniversitycoreFounding university partner since 2004. EWL's first scholarship program established with TWU's Dean. STARs at TWU receive $1,500/semester plus mentoring. Multiple chapters partner with TWU for student support.
- Texas State UniversitycoreUniversity partner for Austin chapter. Austin STARs attend Texas State University San Marcos or Round Rock campuses.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Empowering Women as Leaders competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- iMentor: iMentor pairs low-income students with professional mentors to support college graduation, directly comparable to EWL's one-on-one mentoring and graduation-rate-focused approach.
- American Association of University Women (AAUW): AAUW is a long-standing non-profit providing scholarships, fellowships, and leadership programs specifically for women in higher education, directly comparable to EWL's scholarship-plus-leadership model.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Big Brothers Big Sisters operates a chapter-based, mentor-pairing model for youth nationwide, comparable to EWL's chapter structure and long-term mentor matching approach.
- Scholarship America: Scholarship America is a 501c3 that administers large-scale scholarship programs funded by corporations, foundations, and individuals, closely comparable to EWL's scholarship administration and corporate sponsor structure.
- Step Up Women's Network: Step Up Women's Network mentors underserved high school girls through college and careers via mentoring and networking programs, comparable to EWL's mentoring-plus-networking model targeted at women.
- Girls Inc. Girls Inc. is a national non-profit with a chapter-based affiliate network empowering girls through education, mentoring, and leadership programs, comparable in mission and chapter distribution to EWL.
- Dress for Success: Dress for Success is a chapter-based 501c3 non-profit empowering women through workforce development support, mirroring EWL's chapter model, women's-focused mission, and multi-city U.S. footprint.
Regional players
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund: The Hispanic Scholarship Fund is a national non-profit providing scholarships and mentoring to Hispanic students, comparable in scholarship-plus-mentoring model but focused on a different demographic than EWL.
- United Negro College Fund (UNCF): UNCF is a major scholarship and education non-profit supporting African American students through scholarships and capacity building, comparable in mission to EWL but at significantly larger scale and a different demographic focus.
Broad incumbents
- YWCA USA: YWCA USA is a large, established chapter-based non-profit advancing women's empowerment, safety, and economic opportunity, comparable in mission and chapter-based service delivery but with a much broader programmatic scope than EWL.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Empowering Women as Leaders social profiles
Digital presenceEmpowering Women as Leaders compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Empowering Women as Leaders financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Empowering Women as Leaders leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Empowering Women as Leaders funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Empowering Women as Leaders M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Empowering Women as Leaders
What does Empowering Women as Leaders do?
Empowering Women as Leaders (EWL) provides a STAR Scholarship Program delivering $1,500 per semester to non-traditional age women (23+) enrolled at partner universities, combined with one-on-one mentoring from professional women and networking opportunities throughout college and into careers. The program is delivered through five local chapters (Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Denver) in partnership with Texas Woman's University and Texas State University.
Is Empowering Women as Leaders a public or private company?
Empowering Women as Leaders is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Empowering Women as Leaders founded?
Empowering Women as Leaders was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Empowering Women as Leaders based?
Empowering Women as Leaders is headquartered in Dallas, United States, in the North America region.
How does Empowering Women as Leaders make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Sponsorships.
Who are Empowering Women as Leaders's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are iMentor, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Scholarship America, Step Up Women's Network, Girls Inc. and Dress for Success. Regional players are Hispanic Scholarship Fund and United Negro College Fund (UNCF). YWCA USA is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Empowering Women as Leaders have an API?
No public API is recorded for Empowering Women as Leaders.
What industry is Empowering Women as Leaders in?
Empowering Women as Leaders's product category is Nonprofit Women's Education Support. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAMAN, Mentoring, Coaching, Alumni Networking & Peer Support Platforms, with a secondary code of EDALAJAB, Scholarships, Grants & Donor-Funded Awards Management. Its NAICS code is 6117 and its SIC code is 8200.